A very tiring day Over 400,000 workers and members of the general public descended on London to voice their opposition to the swinging cuts proposed by the millionaires of the cabinet (but they do keep telling us that they understand how difficult it is ....perhaps that's because they could not get into Fortnum and Mason!)

 

The tory press predictably focussed on isolated damage caused by a few (with my limited maths there were at least 800 demonstrators for every one who was involved in more direct action) rather than acknowledge the harm that will be irrevocably caused to public services and consequently to other jobs as well.

 

I spent a couple of hours watching the march from outside the Ritz (without having tea) and I had one of those light bulb moments when I realised that in the procession of angry but good natured people were all of the people who just make life liveable...fire-fighters, carers, teachers, nurses, administrators, environmental health workers, nurses, blood transfusion services, bin collectors, posties, street cleaners, carers, and all of the unsung people who work for the greater good of society. I did see (no hear at first) a expensively suited type as he was complaining loudly on his mobile phone about all of those trades union types who had the cheek to complain about a few cuts..... I did mention to him that he was being somewhat arrogant and that I was PROUD to be one of those trade unionists...and peeps wonder why bankers are so unpopular!!

 

Saturday is not the end, but it should be the beginning of a real fight to protect jobs and working conditions....next time lets make it a million!!

 

 

The fight against the ConDem assault on the public sector and working class people will take to the streets of London Tomorrow.

NAPO members fro Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire will be representing the branch at the demonstration which was originally in protest at the cuts and has grown to include pensions and the dismantling of OUR Health Service (so the that private health and care companies who funded the Tory Bandwagon) can get their greedy unscrupulous fingers into the health budget. which do you think they are more interested in  care of patients or profit? ...I know where my bet would be!!

 

 

 

 

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Eight members of the East Anglia Branch attended AGM this year. Speakers included Crispin Blunt the Prisons and Probation Minister. He received a standing ovation when he told us how much he valued us and the work that we did working with difficult and dangerous people. The reception was not quite as warm when he told us that he is open for the private sector to be more involved in the delivery of probation! He did say encouraging statements such that you can never completely reduce risk and that he wants to move away from a predominately target based culture to one that is based upon outcomes.

However he would not be drawn on the future funding of Probation other than to state that resources would not be increased (surprise surprise) and that he was waiting on the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.

The Hutton report on pensions has now been published and although I have not seen a copy yet I understand that at least it does admit that we do not have the gold plated pensions so frequently mentioned in the press, though it is clear that they will want us to pay more for less...Let’s be ready for that fight as the only thing that is for certain is that we will have to pay for the bankers madness whilst they will share a 7 billion bonus payout this year.

The wonders of technology, this was written in a car park in York on the way home from t'narth.